Your questions answered
+ How can I arrange a consultation with Matthias?
To make an appointment for an initial consultation, please call us on 0434 219 246, between 9.30am and 3.00pm Monday to Thursday or 9.30am to 12.00pm on Fridays.
Please have the following information available:
- Your personal and contact information
- Your referral from your GP or Medical Specialist
- Information about your orthopaedic condition and previous medical imaging
- Your Medicare and Private Health Insurance details.
To confirm your appointment, please email (admin@russorthopaedics.com.au) or fax (9960 0991) your referral to us. You will receive an SMS in the week before your appointment confirming the date and time of your booking.
+ What should I bring to my initial consultation?
Please ensure we have access to all previous medical imaging and medical reports, and your GP referral.
+ How do I get there and is parking available?
We consult in two locations:
Our Malvern consulting rooms are located at Suite 4, 261-271 Wattletree Road (Cnr Tooronga Road), Malvern. Parking is available on surrounding streets (Tooronga Road, Wattletree Road and Horace Street) and a small patient car park with ramp access is available behind our consulting rooms, entering via Tooronga Road.
Our Mildura consulting rooms are at Ontario Medical Clinic, 196-200 Ontario Avenue, Mildura. On-street parking is available on Ontario Avenue and Healthscope Court.
+ What are your fees?
Our fees are based on the Australian Medical Association's fee schedule. All consultation fees are payable at the time of consultation, by cash, EFTPOS, MasterCard or Visa. We will inform you of your expected consultation fee when you book your appointment.
In most instances, there will be part of the consultation and surgical fee that is not covered by Medicare and your private health fund. When your surgical procedure is planned, we will provide a written fee estimate to fully inform you of your out of pocket expenses. We will also provide information about methods of payment, and how to claim your Medicare and private health fund rebates. Please let us know if you have any questions about your surgery fees.
+ Do I need to have private health insurance?
As well as covering a significant portion of your surgery and hospital costs, private health insurance allows you and your family to choose your provider and treatment facility, as well as the timing of your treatment.
As a private practice, we do not treat uninsured patients.
+ Do you accept WorkCover and TAC referrals?
WorkCover and TAC referrals are accepted on a case-by-case basis, depending on the type of injury and treatment required. All consultation fees are payable by the patient on the day of consultation, with reimbursement provided by your insurer. For inpatient surgical procedures that have been approved by TAC or WorkCover, all fees are paid directly by the insurer.
+ How do I arrange surgery?
Surgery will be planned during your initial or review consultation. We will discuss the planned treatment, timing and expected postoperative plan, and complete your surgical consent. Hospital admission forms will be provided during your consultation, and a written surgery fee estimate will be provided by post or email.
Your hospital will contact you in the days prior to your surgery to confirm your admission details.
+ Who else will be involved in my care?
We work closely with a team of physicians, anaesthetists, rehabilitation consultants, physiotherapists, nurses and medical imaging providers, to ensure you receive comprehensive and optimal care throughout the treatment and recovery process. In consultation with you, we will recommend and arrange referral to the medical professionals who best suit your needs.
+ What happens after my surgery?
If you have day surgery, you will be discharged from hospital on the evening of your surgery, when you have recovered from your anaesthetic and you are comfortable. Postoperative instructions will be provided by your surgery team. For your safety, please arrange for a friend or family member to take you home from hospital.
If you are having inpatient surgery, a rehabilitation consultant will visit you after you surgery to evaluate your rehabilitation needs and arrange transfer from hospital to a rehabilitation facility if required.
After you are discharged, we will see you in our rooms for postoperative review; the timing of this visit is determined by your postoperative rehabilitation schedule. For many procedures, follow up X-rays will be required to confirm bone healing and implant alignment. We will provide your imaging referral and schedule a consultation in our rooms to review your images and plan. We will continue your follow up until your healing is complete and you have achieved the best possible outcome.
